Protomatrix

Matrix routing is one of those things that everyone will claim they know, until they are faced with an actual challenge of routing something with a matrix and they make a total mess of it. I encountered matrix routing first when I was looking into PXI-based matrix switching systems, where the status quo culture is to cut a fat cheque $$$$$/yr to buy the magic routing software and "don't reinvent your own wheel". Well, what's wrong with reinventing your own wheel sometimes? I find this is the most fun thing about engineering: to learn how things work, so you can do your own take on it, combine, remix, and integrate into something new and to avoid paying $$$$$/yr , that too.

Here, I will tell you a small secret. Matrix routing is actually very simple. Here's HOW TO IMPLEMENT AN ARBITRARY CIRCUIT USING A MATRIX IN 3 STEPS:

Matrix routing procedure

Split up your circuit into nets (groups of connected nodes).

1. Physically attach device nodes to X columns
2. Designate a unique Y row to each net in the circuit you want to route
3. To implement a net, close all crosspoints at the intersections of each node's X column and the Y row of the net

You may want to spend some time to internalize why above three steps work. Once you get it down you have a new powerful tool at your disposal.

I made some router boards to try the idea out, you can buy them if you want to support my project: Protomatrix 2x30x80. More coming...